The Western Bulldogs development is a mix of impatience and perspective

IN THE development phase resides the competing tensions of impatience and perspective.

Brendan McCartney is possessed deeply of the latter but wouldn’t be human if he wasn’t experiencing a pang of the former.

In his third year at the Whitten Oval the heaviest teaching phase is completed with philosophies and methods in place.

But the true progression is yet to materialise. That’s the most frustrating lag. Waiting for the outcome.

There’s no rushing the rebuild the Western Bulldogs embarked upon. You can’t hurry progress any more than speed up time.News_Rich_Media: Bulldogs head coach Brendan McCartney says his side suffered from stage fright in their nine point loss to Adelaide

The closing six games last season, in which the Bulldogs blossomed in style and results, offered proof, reassurance and a benchmark.

Amid four wins and two respectable defeats, the Dogs beat Carlton and Adelaide in consecutive weeks.

The corresponding fixtures this past fortnight brought a pair of losses, leaving the impression of a team that hasn’t come on.

The Bulldogs had suffered in the Perth heat in the opening round leaving them vulnerable at the hands of a clearly more advanced North Melbourne.

They rescued victory against Richmond then recouped an awful start to roll strongly over the Giants.News_Image_File: Jackson Macrae has been one of the few brights spots for the Bulldogs. Picture: Michael Klein

None of it was quite to the level that might’ve been hoped for. The Carlton defeat though was outright failure.

The team failed to meet the standards of the McCartney regime. Absent was the demanded team-first, uncompromising footy. Missing was the defensive intent and discipline. Unsatisfactory was the basic effort and application.

A coach noted for nurturing and educating fearsomely called his players to account in a stinging review.

The response last week against the Crows was to produce a game far more in keeping with what the Bulldogs aspire to. A strong, contested, intense battle in which the margin was as slight as the inside of the goal post.

Had the Bulldogs been 3-3 they wouldn’t be on the watch list. But at 2-4 they can’t seriously be bracketed with Carlton, Richmond and Essendon as teams on the brink.News_Image_File: Stewart Crameri has proved his worth to the Bulldogs.

Despite the pithy pitch of president Peter Gordon - “we are the danger” - the Bulldogs trajectory isn’t to the finals in 2014.

The job is to take progressive steps with temperament, style and personnel. On those fronts the coming weeks are crucial.

Separate to skill or ability, the team craves maturity and dependability. What McCartney calls the mental strength to do what the game needs at any time.

Currently the Bulldogs are vulnerable to awful 15-minute lapses that undermine their endeavours.

More broadly they haven’t yet re-established the cornerstone of their game – winning the contest.

Will Minson is grinding his way into the season well short of his All-Australian form. Ryan Griffen is only now regaining his explosive capacities after injury interruption. Tom Liberatore has been left to deal with the heavy tag.News_Image_File: Western Bulldogs coach Brendan McCartney oversees training. Picture: Michael Klein

That trio has tremendous upside to directly lift the team’s fortunes.

Then it’s back to the challenge of opening the game up, creating space and moving the ball better. Combining the inside and outside game to maximum effect.

On the measure of personnel the Bulldogs aren’t a team that can absorb key post injuries. The loss of Jordan Roughead followed by Dale Morris proved a desperate plight.

Liam Jones is wildly inconsistent. Tom Williams has turned in desperately unconvincing performances. Michael Talia has his L-plates on. As yet there’s no confidence of a baseline performance individually or collectively.

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